| name | ios-navigation-and-ia |
| description | Use when deciding how an iPhone or iPad app should be organized, including tab bars, drill-down flows, sheets, settings grouping, information architecture, and navigation patterns that should feel native on iOS. |
iOS Navigation And IA
Users should understand where they are, how they got there, and how to leave.
Defaults
- tab bars for primary destinations
- navigation stacks for hierarchy
- sheets for focused temporary tasks
- settings grouped by user mental model
Use
- tabs when destinations are peers
- push navigation when moving deeper into one area
- sheets when the task is self-contained
- full-screen covers sparingly
Avoid
- hamburger menus on iPhone without a strong reason
- too many primary tabs
- actions hidden where users expect structure
- modal stacks that trap people
IA Test
- can a new user predict where a feature lives
- does each tab have a clear job
- do screens get deeper only when needed
- do actions live near the thing they affect